Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

2 key biological elements of aging in humans reversed in scientific first

Until someone finds a “fountain of youth,” aging will continue to take a toll on all of us. There are ways to slow the aging process through diet and exercise, but no way to reverse it — until now. For the first time, and in humans — not mice, researchers were able to reverse two key biological elements of aging…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Risky medications that increase post-surgical delirium (and worse)

With age may come wisdom, but it can also bring a number of health problems, including some that require surgery. But surgery in our senior years is especially risky, and new findings show some common medications can make it much worse. Here’s what you need to know…

Jedha Dening

Triple your disease protection with carotenoids

Carotenoids make fruits and vegetables colorful. But more than that, carotenoids are powerful antioxidants with a serious capacity to scavenge free radicals and protect your body’s cells and tissues from oxidative damage and these three major health threats…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

A big clue you’ve won the genetic lottery

Thanks to the fact that the over 60s age group is growing faster than any other, research is focused on how those living longer into old age can do so without succumbing to years of frailty and disability. And they may have found at least one of the secrets to living better longer…

Joyce Hollman

What the optometrist can ‘see’ about your stroke risk

Americans are not fans of eye exams. The American Academy of Ophthalmologists reports most of us won’t see an eye doctor even when problems develop. That’s a mistake: an exam could find signs you’re headed for stroke or heart attack even before your doctor can…

Joyce Hollman

The mineral behind Parkinson’s brain-robbing proteins

Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are both brain disorders. And while Parkinson’s symptoms are more physical, they share symptoms, including dementia and disease progression. New research shows they also may share a common enemy that worsens brain destroying proteins.

Carolyn Gretton

Can an avocado a day really help you lose weight?

There’s no doubt avocados are high in fat and calories. But can eating them actually help you lose weight? Smaller studies have suggested that’s the case. What did the largest and longest study to date on the health impacts of avocados find?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Vitamin deficiency tied to diabetic foot ulcers

Foot ulcers are a major complication of unmanaged blood sugar. And they should be taken seriously. Severe ulcers can lead to amputation. That’s why to avoid them, doctors recommend proper management of blood sugar and weight loss. Add an important vitamin to that list…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The diabetes threat to cancer survival

Certain types of cancer have been found to increase a survivor’s risk for diabetes. And survivors who develop diabetes don’t fair as well as those who don’t. Could maintaining healthy blood sugar levels be the key to better odds and longer survival after cancer?

Joyce Hollman

How the medical community is making human guinea pigs of women

Some of the biggest medical studies to date, responsible for medication and procedures, have been conducted without a single female subject. But is that holding the medical community back from using protocols designed for men on women? Not at all and not without consequence…

Carolyn Gretton

Exercise or die? What if you’ve already had a heart attack

No one likes to exercise. But every day 2,200 Americans die from a heart attack. But you know what? There are about 335,000 recurrent heart attacks each year, too. That means a lot of people survive. But is exercise a good idea after the fact, can it keep you from another, and what kind’s best?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The oil that turns fat storage cells into fat burning cells

For the longest, I was stuck with an extra 10 or 15 pounds that I felt I needed to lose. I can’t count how many times I’ve wished for a magic pill that would turn me into a fat burning machine. Well, thanks to researchers in Kyoto, Japan, we may have gotten a little closer to that magic pill.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The Alzheimer’s trifecta more risky than genetics

If a close family member had Alzheimer’s, you know that fear of one day developing the disease yourself. On the other hand, no family history could give you a false sense of security. That’s because a trifecta of three common health conditions has been found to carry a much higher risk than genetics…

Joyce Hollman

7 aging myths to stop believing

Aging is still a difficult subject to talk about. Maybe that’s why the aging process is surrounded by myths that many people believe. Here are seven of them we’d like you to stop falling for. You’ll improve your health, live longer and enjoy life more!

Joyce Hollman

How to slash genetic risk for prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in American men, and the most heritable cancer. If your father had it, there’s a high chance you will, too. If you are at increased genetic risk, recent research spells out exactly what you can do to dramatically decrease the odds it will take your life.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

2 steps to beating hypertension even if you’re overweight and over 55

There are a number of things that can cause your blood pressure to go up. But two of the most common contributors are age and weight. A new study has found a two-step system can significantly lower blood pressure even if you’re over the age of 55, overweight or obese…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The nutrient deficiency that leads to loneliness (and heart dangers)

Scientists discovered that loneliness can actually be ‘seen’ in our blood. While it sounds crazy, they saw that people who live with loneliness have very specific compounds in their blood, plus a nutrient deficiency that helps explains their condition and specific heart dangers…

Joyce Hollman

Only 1 in 5 of us has a healthy heart: Is it you?

While a higher risk of heart disease can be inherited, lifestyle can outweigh even these genetic tendencies. In a first ever study measuring specific factors that affect heart health, the news is grim for most of us, based on that simple fact, unless…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 ways to naturally relieve COPD symptoms

Many people don’t realize that COPD is actually an umbrella term that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and sometimes asthma. Nor do they realize how widespread and dangerous it is — especially if you’re a woman…

Easy Health Options Staff

The ONE question to always ask a thyroid doctor

Need a good reason to take extra care of your thyroid? Here’s a good one: If something goes wrong — surgery is risky. But if you absolutely must have it removed, there is one very important thing you must ask your surgeon…

Joyce Hollman

From weight loss to lower cholesterol: How to get the most from apples

Study after study has shown the health benefits of apples give credence to the saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But, there are many ways to enjoy apples, and they’re not all created equal when it comes to reaping their nutritional value…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Viral trigger to blame for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis has had doctors and scientists stumped ever since it was first identified. While they could put up theories of what might cause the crippling autoimmune disease, the proof was elusive, until a solid connection was linked to a common virus…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Stomach cancer: Risks and symptoms you should know

While stomach cancer is only the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide, it’s the third most common cause of cancer death. Because it’s so dangerous, it’s important to know the signs, risks and best prevention…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Over 51? You may have monkeypox protection

No one is sounding loud alarms about monkeypox yet, but cases have started to rise. An interesting thing is that most of them are in people under 50. Unlike the last virus that made older adults a target, if you’re 51 or over, you may have little to be concerned about…

Carolyn Gretton

Is E. coli and a bad diet a recipe for colon cancer?

A Western-style diet is linked with a higher risk of colorectal cancer. And separate studies have indicated colorectal cancer could be influenced by a certain type of bacteria. Now, scientists are looking closely at the connection between these two colorectal cancer risk factors…

Joyce Hollman

The best way to avoid knee pain says science

The pain of knee osteoarthritis can be excruciating, and the stiffness can really slow you down. For many people, the solution is a total knee replacement. But science is stacking up for a simple way to slow damage and reduce your pain risk by 40 percent…

Carolyn Gretton

The menopause change that increases stroke and Alzheimer’s risk

Many changes come with menopause. And most of them we’re very familiar with. But one symptom has left experts wondering if it’s the result of out-of-whack hormones or if actual physical changes occur in the brain. Researchers recently explored this and what they discovered is concerning…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The microbe shortage spreading disease

The microorganisms that dwell in your gut impact vitals such as blood pressure, immune system development and your risks for more than two dozen other diseases, that they know of at this point. But most of us are running around with an “impoverished microbiome.”

Joyce Hollman

LISS: The low-intensity workout with big cardio benefits

Remember when high-intensity interval training became popular? I wondered how anyone but a seasoned athlete could stand up to those intense bursts of exercise. If you’re looking for cardio you can keep up with, that elevates your heart rate with less risk of injury, welcome to low-intensity steady state workouts…

Carolyn Gretton

Low sex drive? It may be your thyroid

There are a lot of symptoms of low thyroid function. You may experience cold hands and feet, fatigue, headache, stiff or painful joints and depression, among other effects. But there’s another thyroid symptom affecting men and women we don’t talk about…

Jenny Smiechowski

What do antifreeze, dog food, ice cream and your cosmetics have in common?

Let’s say you’re at the grocery store, and you have a sudden, overwhelming craving for a big scoop of rocky road in a waffle cone. You pick up the first carton of rocky road you see and take a look at the label. It contains all sorts of stuff, but you won’t find all of it listed for good reason…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The vitamin that could help cancer patients live longer

Cancer is an incredibly scary disease. It turns your body’s own cells against you until they grow out of control in a bid to steal your life. And, considering the fact that cancer is now the second leading cause of death in the U.S., far too many people are being forced to deal with the realities of the disease.

Joyce Hollman

The scientific reasons weighted blankets ease anxiety, improve sleep and help you feel hugged

There’s a therapeutic blanket that’s gaining in popularity today that takes “security blanket” to a whole new level. Research has shown it’s good for relieving anxiety and insomnia, and for helping adults as well as children. If this sounds like something you’d like to try, here’s why and how it works…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The common viral infection that increases risk for dangerous brain inflammation

90 percent of adults will be infected with this virus. In fact, it’s the most widespread epidemic in our country. But most people will only suffer uncomfortable outbreaks. The unlucky ones could end up with a far more dangerous issue that affects the brain. But the right bacteria can help…

Joyce Hollman

Is this tick-borne virus the new Lyme disease?

The deer tick is far from the only critter that can infect you with a vector-borne disease (one caused by a microorganism transmitted by an insect bite). At least eight other tick varieties can transmit potentially fatal diseases. So, it’s frightening indeed when yet another tick-borne disease is discovered…

Jenny Smiechowski

A berry good way to lower the risk of heart problems by 15 percent

Imagine your doctor telling you that you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol all at once. Then, learning that a cup of blueberries per day can help you master your metabolic syndrome and significantly reduce all these problems?.

Dr. Michael Cutler

The dark truths about Atorvastatin that some doctors play off as myths

Recently, I read an online article about 7 common myths surrounding the cholesterol-lowering medication Atorvastatin, also known as Lipitor. The author minimized well-reported adverse side effects to the degree I might expect from a pharmaceutical representative. Let me set the record straight…

Margaret Cantwell

Why you don’t need 10,000 steps per day to stay healthy

Now, I don’t want to be glib, because getting enough activity is incredibly important. But why 10,000 steps? Where did this number come from? And will you really get diabetes, cancer, heart disease or die early if you only get, say, 6,300 steps per day?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 hidden headache triggers (slideshow)

There is a way to stop most headaches before they start and it can be as simple as changing the foods you eat. Here are the six foods that could be causing your headaches.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Just one night of bad sleep can blow up your blood pressure

Many factors contribute to high blood pressure, but most of us wouldn’t think about sleep quality as part of that equation. Think again! How well you sleep is more important to maintaining healthy blood pressure than you’d ever expect. Just look at these results after just one night of tossing and turning…

Joyce Hollman

3 studies that crack the ‘bad egg’ myth in a major way

In the “old days,” cholesterol was Public Enemy #1. And one of the biggest sources of cholesterol? Eggs. Fried, scrambled … we were told over and over to lay off the eggs, for our hearts’ sake. Then things started to shift.

Jenny Smiechowski

The exercise that helps men manage that late life belly bulge

As soon as middle age hits, men and women face a noble yet notoriously difficult battle worthy of an entire Game of Thrones episode — the battle of the belly bulge. Here’s how to banish that belly bounce for good…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The cancer therapy that lowers your risk of side effects from radiation

It seems like it would be bad enough just to receive a cancer diagnosis, but often the cure can feel as bad as the disease. In order to beat cancer, the treatment experience can be quite miserable. But thanks to the latest in cancer therapies, the sickness and misery could be a thing of the the past…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

How a zero-calorie soda can give you diabetes

We all know that sugary drinks are bad for us. But what if I told you there was another beverage that could be even worse? In fact, if it were a pharmaceutical it might have been pulled from the market by now. Or, at the least, carry a strong warning to physicians and a warning label for consumers…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why bad cholesterol could bring on early Alzheimer’s

There’s an Alzheimer’s risk factor that most people don’t realize is a risk factor. And it affects millions of Americans. Luckily, it’s a risk factor that can easily be abated — your cholesterol level. It turns out that high LDL cholesterol could be putting you at risk for Alzheimer’s…

Joyce Hollman

The common (and controllable) symptom that links disease and depression

It stands to reason that having heart disease, suffering a stroke, or having cancer could lead to feelings of depression. But it works the other way too… people with depression are more likely to also suffer certain physical disorders. It boils down to this common denominator…

Jenny Smiechowski

The popular joint supplement with hidden heart benefits (and more!)

If you’ve ever struggled with stiff, achy joints, you’ve probably tried glucosamine supplements. They’re by far the most popular joint supplement around… If you’re dealing with your joint condition in other ways, you’re missing out. This supplement has more major benefits than you can shake a stick at…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Civil War-era medicines could fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria today

Thanks to research at Emory University, help for the antibiotic resistance epidemic may have been discovered in the most unlikely of ways — not in cutting edge medical techniques or the latest drug development — but in the past…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Women with sleep apnea have a cancer concern they may not know about

Sleep apnea is a common condition that’s still grossly underdiagnosed in women. A dangerous trend considering women with sleep apnea are at much higher risk for heart problems. And now, a new study has confirmed that for women, our sleep apnea danger doesn’t stop at our hearts.

Dr. Michael Cutler

High protein for weight loss and more

I love a high protein meal. The good news here is that higher protein foods reduce obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, muscle wasting (in the elderly), and more. But that is far from all the benefits. Studies also back up the role of protein in weight loss and weight maintenance…

Joyce Hollman

Aspirin may not be as dangerous as we thought

Aspirin continues to be routinely prescribed to patients at risk of heart disease. But research is starting to question whether this is OK for everyone. If you’ve been regularly popping an aspirin, particularly if you are at high risk of stroke or have had a stroke, you’ll want to pay close attention…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 ways watermelon boosts your energy (slideshow)

This summer fruit isn’t just juicy and sweet, it’s also chock-full of nutrients that ward off fatigue and its hidden causes. Let’s take a look at all the ways eating watermelon can give you more energy.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Spirulina: How to use the superfood that’s your heart’s best friend

There’s no question that your heart is one of the most important organs in your body. And, if you don’t keep it healthy, you’re at extreme risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack and even heart failure. This antioxidant powerhouse offers the multi-faceted protection your heart needs…

Jenny Smiechowski

10 scientifically proven ways to lower your dementia risk

When it comes to reducing your dementia risk, you don’t have time to waste… Every year, 10 million more people worldwide are diagnosed with this devastating disease. And that number is expected to increase in the coming years. So why mess around? Start lowering your risk today…

Joyce Hollman

What you should know about cancer if you’re 65+

One quarter of new cancer diagnoses are in people ages 65 to 74. Given these numbers, prevention efforts should be focused on addressing the particular challenges and cancer risk factors faced by older adults. That’s why experts came together to examine how cancer in this age group could be better prevented…

Jenny Smiechowski

The common antibiotic that puts you at risk for a fatal heart rhythm

There’s probably been a point in your life where you took a Z-pack from your doctor without second guessing it. Maybe your throat was ablaze with strep bacteria or any other number of nasty infections. At those times, a Z-pack feels like a life-saver. But this common antibiotic can also be a life-ender…

Joyce Hollman

Ultra-processed foods: How fake food leads to real disease

Every day, more proof arises that what we put in our mouths can have a profound effect on our health, now and in the long run. Despite all the news and research about the importance of eating whole foods with names you can spell, Americans are reaching for foods that make them fat and sick — one in particular…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Baby boomers: Shingles is putting your vision in danger

Most of us have heard of the shingles virus, especially if you’re past middle age when your risk of being diagnosed goes up. Basically, if you’ve ever had chickenpox, you’re at risk for shingles. And, there’s something else you should know… It’s putting more and more baby boomers at serious risk for blindness…

Jenny Smiechowski

The hidden heart danger that starts way before menopause

Women have a much steeper heart disease risk once menopause strikes. But your estrogen levels start dipping long before you enter full-blown menopause which means your heart attack risk skyrockets a lot sooner than you realized.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Get up to take your colorectal cancer risk down by 70%

Sitting is the new smoking. That’s because while the rates of smoking have fallen to their lowest point in recorded history, we spend more time than ever sitting… at our computers, in our cars, on our couches to watch TV and at the kitchen table eating. And it’s making us sick.

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